Abstract
This project aims to describe the mechanisms of the influence of grazing on protected grassland communities in the Bohemian Karst Protected Landscape Area. Grazing management has been implemented in 2005 and at the same time this study began.
This work sums results after three years of research, when we monitored vegetation changes, observed grazers selectivity and grazing intensity, performed sowing experiments to evaluate the influence of grazing on seedling recruitment and survival, studied population dynamics of selected species (Anacamptis pyramidalis and Pulsatilla pratensis subsp. bohemica) and collected data on species traits, mainly the ability of individual species to resprout after grazing. This project is done in close cooperation with Administration of the Bohemian Karst PLA, which uses these results to evaluate the implemented management regime.
Results of this project will provide unique long-term data and help when implementing grazing management on other sites.